Summer Of Specialities

July 23, 1999|By Christy Cabrera Staff Writer

Samantha Nelson of Pembroke Pines has been doing something a little different this summer.

She is among a growing number of children choosing to grab sports equipment, paint brushes and instrument cases for some new, hands-on programs instead of participating in traditional summer activities

Samantha, 8, has spent most of her vacation at Pembroke Pines' newest camp, the Rising Stars Performing Arts Camp at the Village Community Center. Several other Broward County cities have been conducting similar specialty camps that are multiplying:

-- Miramar offers an Arts Camp and a Sports Camp.

-- Cooper City presented a band camp at Pioneer Middle School for budding musicians.

-- Hallandale is offering the opportunity to learn more about arts through the city's Children's Visual and Performing Arts Camp.

Giselle Bishop, director of the Rising Stars Performing Arts Camp, says she is pleased with the recent success the camp has experienced.

"The kids have been very supportive and I'm really surprised at the talent I've seen," Bishop said. "I thought it would take a little longer to get everything together, but at this point we're just fine tuning things for the show."

The youngsters will present Grease 2000, an end-of-camp performance where children will have the opportunity to show off newfound talent. The 46 children enrolled have been preparing with classes in drama, dance, music and set and costume design.

"This camp is really educational," Bishop said. "They've had to learn the dancing, the music and how to read the script."

Samantha is no newcomer to life on stage. She's danced prior to camp and her mother, Paige Nelson, said the camp has been a perfect fit.

"She's a dancer and she's off for the summer. When she heard about this she wanted to do it in the worst way," Nelson said. "She wakes up at 6 in the morning and is ready to go and in the afternoon she doesn't want to go home. It looks like they're all having fun."

Nelson isn't the only parent pleased with the specialty camps.

Linda Ross of Davie has had both of her sons, Michael, 11, and Jeffrey, 14, take part in the Pioneer Eagles Band Camp in Cooper city.

"Michael has been watching his brother play and he's always known that it's a lot of fun," Ross said. "I know that he wants to come back and do the program again and Jeffrey wants to come back and help teach it. It's amazing to see how it's grown."

In Miramar, children who would rather spend summers learning skills outside the arts can enroll in a city sports camp. The camp caters to children ages 8-13 who are interested in learning about sports.

"Our activities focus on children that are more athletic and the camp is made for the kids that really want to get out there," said Shannon Bird, the Youth Center supervisor at the camp. "We try to do a lot of different

things centered on sports."

While campers in Miramar spend a lot of time learning about and playing sports, Bird says the activities aren't limited to just athletic competition. Campers learn about numerous career opportunities that lie within a professional sports organization.

"Lots of kids want to be professional baseball players or football players, but we teach them that not everyone has to be a professional athlete," Bird said. "If they're interested in sports, there are a lot more things they can do, career-wise."

On that front, the camp tries to get as many guest speakers as possible. Children will visit the Miami Dolphins training camp in Davie and will meet with a Florida Marlins athletic trainer during the camp's baseball and football weeks in August.

"It's hard to teach sports to all age groups, but they do well with it here," said Jackie Traverso of Miramar, whose daughter Jenelle Traverso, 8, attends the sports camp. "They're doing such a great job with these kids and it's a very valuable experience."

Whether they play sports or play an instrument, campers and parents rate the specialty programs a hit.

On the last day of his band camp, Michael Ross already had plans for his next summer vacations.

"This summer I learned how to play an instrument," Michael said.

"It's interesting and I've had a lot of fun. I want to come here again."

Christy Cabrera can be reached at ccubrera@ sun-seritihel. corn or call 954-385-7918.